Monday, December 22, 2003

Interview with Josh Joplin

JOSH JOPLIN

Thursday, December 11, 2003

Interview with Metal Artist, "Beyond Picasso"

Interview with Metal Artist, "Beyond Picasso"

I met the artist known as Beyond Picasso, many many moons ago. He saved my life once, or at least once, back during High School, when we had skipped school together and ran off to a place called "40 Acres", which was a favorite spot, along with the "Hot Hole", for crazed and flip Charlotteans to go swimming on hot school days.

One afternoon, while at 40 Acres, I had the distinct, but incorrect, impression that I could swim across the pond. Well, I couldn't. And my friend dove in and carried me on his back, both of us huffing and puffing, to safety.

In time Captain Beyond, as I'll call him (precious of his anonymity), joined the Navy, travelled the world, and lived in Sweden for almost a decade. He has since gotten heavily involved in metal sculpture, where he funnels the world he has experienced into a form not unconducive to Feng Shui design -- metal being a primary design element.

IB: So Captain! Whaddup?

BP: Where's the beer?

IB: